Railway switch ang signal apparatus



H. (I. WXLLIAMS. RMLWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILEDMAR. 28. 1910.

Patented Aug 2;, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET1.

H. c. WILLIKVIS. RAILWAY SWITCH AND S!GNAL APPARATUS.

1 q 1 5 1 .3 1 6 la-tentd Aug. 24, 1915.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, I910.

' o zizforne y.

H. C WILLIAMS.

RAILWAY SWlTCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS,

APPLICATION man MAR.28.1910.

1 1 5 1 1 6 Patented Aug. '24, 1915.

V 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. E29

tened portion,

pnrrnn stares Parana? enrich.

HIRAM C. WILLIAMS, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGIN'OR, OF ONE-THIRD TOFRANCIS B. HARRINGTON, 0F ALBANY, NEW YORK, AND ONE-THIRD T0 STEPHEN R.PAYNE,

' 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. an, acre.

Application filed March 28, 1910. Serial No. 551,915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HIRAM G. WILLIAMS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneidaand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Railway Switch and Signal Apparatus, of which the followin is aspecification. I

y invention relates to railway switch and signal apparatus, and theobject of my invention is to provide a switch stand with connectingapparatus whereby the signal may beset and locked, the switch pointsmoved and locked, a derail closed, and all so arranged that the signalcannot be changed until the switch points have been again moved, lockedin their new position and the derail opened and locked in its openposition, when the signal may be turned showing the track to be clear;together with the elements and combinations hereinafter moreparticularly set forth and claimed. I accomplish these objects by meansof the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective of the track, showing the connections of myswitch stand. Fig. 2 a plan of the switch stand with connections brokenaway. Fig. 3 a section along the lines VV on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 a sectionalong the lines on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 a sectionalong the lines XX 'on Fig.2. Fig. 6 a view of the locking bar. Fig. 7- a view of the pinion andshaft connection. Fig. 8 a view of the shaft connec tion with a signallever.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the main line, B the siding. The switch point, C, isconnected with a rod, D, to a lever, E, the movement of the lever,E,.causing the switch point, C, to be moved to or from the rail, a, ofthe track A. The switch point, C, is also connected to a locking rod, F,which is provided with a flat f, which has two or more openings, g, 71,,therethrough, and which fiattened portion reci rocates" through asuitable locking box,

The lever, E, carries a post, K, which is provided with projections, in,k, which have their extreme ends at an angle to each other as shown inFig. 2 and with which the sliding block, L, attached to the rack, M, en-

gages in its reciprocation under the-,direction of said rack and whichenga'gtement causes the rotation of the post, K, which will in turnimpart a reciprocating movement to the rod, D, which, as before stated,is attached to the switch point, C, and therefore in its movement willopen or close the switch point with reference to the rail, a.

\Vithin the locking box, G, Iplaced the bolts, N and 0, adapted to bealternately forced through the openings 9, it, in the rod, F. My meansfor movingthe bolts, N and 0, preferably consists of the rods, n, 0,respectively, connecting dillerent points on the periphery of the wheel,P, on the shaft, It, so arranged that when one of the bolts, N, isforced into one of the openings, g, in the rod, F, the other bolt willbe withdrawn out of connection with the rod, 'F, or its opening, andwhen the bolt which is in the opening in the rod, F, is withdrawntherefrom the other bolt will be forced into the other opening, 71.,thereby locking the rod and hencev the switch point to which it isattached, in each position, open or closed in reference to the rail, a.

I have shown the two openings, g, it, in the rod, F, in differenthorizontal planes, because I want to prevent any possibility of the boltpassing through the wrong open: ing. In case a break should occur, orthe rod, F, should fail to move properly because of the switch pointneglecting or refusing to move, then the locking bolt will strike thelocking rod, 'F, instead of entering one of the openings therethrough,which would prevent, as will hereinafter be shown, the complete movementof the switch lever and thgis not only show clearly to the operator thatthe switch is not being moved, but will prevent a movement of theysignal, which has been set at danger,'until this matter of the refusalof the switch point to move has been rectified.

The shaft, R, which has its end, B, squared and upon which squaredportion the wheel, I is keyed, is provided with the rounded portion, Rfollowed by the squared the rod, T, which is connected with the bellcrank lever, t, one arm of which is connected with the switch point, U,adjoining the derail, ll, and by the movement ofwhich the point, U, isbrought in contactjvith or moved from the derail, U. of the switchlever, S, hereinafter described will therefore control the movement ofthe rod, D, and the switch point, C, will operate the bolts, N and 0,locking the switch points and unlocking them, and, will also more thederail switch, U, so as to open and 11, of the casting, 10, the lever,E, and rod,

D, being beneath the plate, 11. I do not,

. however, wish to limit myself to this construction of the casting orrelative,lcation of the parts in reference to the same.

Adjacent to the end of the shaft, R? and extending in a prolongationthereof is the shaft R upon which and mounted in the side, 12, of thecasting is the sleeve, 13,

squared at the end, 14, and upon which squared end, 14', is secured thesignal lever, 15. I

On the shaft, R, I mount loosely the comd mutator, 17, connected to thesleeve, 16, by

a clutch, 30,-as shown in Fi 2 and 4. The commutator, 17, is also hel inplace on the shaft, R, by the pin, r, passing through the collar, 1", atthe end of the commutator. The commutator, 17, is connected by thewires, 18, with the semaphore, 19, or other suitable signaling apparatusin such a manner that the current from the commutator may be carried tothe signal operatin apparatus, not shown, by means of whic the semiphoremay be set at danger or other position as desired, depending upon theposition of, the commutator. I also connect with the signal lever,15,bymeans of a cam-shaped hub, 20, a link, 21, secured to a sleeve, 22,attached to a rod, 23, which rod, 23, has at its end a bolt, 24, passinginto a locking box, 25, within which reciprocates bar, 26,

attached -to the end of the switch point, U, adjacent to the derail, U.Thus the movement of the signal lever, 15, will set the signal throughthe current breaker and will lock or unlock the switch point inconnection with the derail.

Between the levers, S and 15, and mounted in the side, 12, of the casingis a rocking locking plate, 27, which is provided on each side with ashoulder, 28, 29, which will project over the levers, S and 15,respectively,

The movement depending upon the directionin which the rocking lockinplate is inclined and its di-' rection of inc ination is controlled bythe movement of one of said levers; that is, if signal lever, 15, israised from the position occupied by it, as shown in Fig. 2, the rockinglocking plate, 27, must be inclined toward and the shoulder 28, projectover switch lever, S, in order to allow signal lever, 15, to pass theshoulder, 29. It cannot be raised for the purpose of setting the signalat danger without thus locking and holding locked the switch lever, S,until the signal ever movement is completed.

In order to move the switch lever, S, the rocking locking plate, 27,must be pressed over upon signal lever, 15, so that it cannot bemoveduntil the switch .lever, S, has

moved the switch points and also the derail switch. It is apparenttherefore that the danger signal cannot be changed until theswitch-lever, S, has again been moved, clearing the main track fromconnection with the switch points and opening the de rail by separatingthe switch point, U, therefrom and completing its movement by beinglaidin the casting, thereby permitting the locking ba'r to rock over itand release the signal lever, 15, which may then be raised and projectedthrough its course, changing "the signal to clear and lockin the derailswitch point, thereby insuringa solute protection from anything runningonto the main track from the-siding while the signal shows the track tobe free or clear.-

It will be understood that by arranging the projections, la, on thepost, K, in the manner illustrated and described, the block, L,operating in connection with said projec tions will be capable of acertain amount of lost motion during its movements in connectiontherewith, which will permit the bolts, N and 0, connected with theshaft by means of the wheel, P, to beoperated upon and thereforewithdrawn from the locking bar before the movement of the switch pointis attempted.

' The connection between the signal lever, 15, and the sleeve, 22,connected with the derail lockingrod, 23, permits of a movement of therod whereby the derail will be locked only when the clear signal isdisplayed.

With my arrangement of the operating levers, the switch lever and thesignal lever, they are moved through an angle of substantially 180 andare placed parallel to the track, thereby making my switch stand onethat can be used where there is no more space for the switch stand andconnections than that between two tracks. It can also be used at adistance from the track.

A further noticeable feature of my invention is that the derailisoperated at 'the switch stand but with a movement of 6" or mensiemere, whereby a direct and positive motion is given derail lock andswitch.

The circuit breaker controller or commucstor, 17, is a device ferelectrically displaying a signal, as at semiphore, 19, or an otherpredesermined signal, and the electrical controller mziy be connected upin any suitable manner, not shown.

What 1 claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters iatent, is:

1. The combination of a switch; a derail; and a signal 5 with a switchstand, comprising a lever for moving said switch; means SQI'; in motionby the movemenhof said lever for moving the derail; a, lever for movingthe signal; means set in motion by said signal lever for locking andunlocking said derail; means for locking the switch point; means foriocking' said; levers preventing the movement of the switch point. andderailoperating means curring the movement and until the completion ofthe movementof the signal operating mechanism, and flshen holdingthesignal mechanism anci the derail ,gehe switch point, simultaneously;

locked until the mechanism for the switch has closed the same.

2. The combination of a switch; a fiereii; and a signal; with e switchstand; ccmprising a lever for operating the switch; a; lever foroperating the signal; e rod adeplteci to be attached to the switchpoint; means eperated by the swifich lever operating said rod; a rodadapted; to be connected to the derail; means connecting said derailrodwith the means operateci by saiii swihch leverfor' recip oceting thederail r061 and a rod adapted te lock the derail; meanspui, motion bysaid signal lever for opersiing the derail locking rod; and meansconnecting said derail lockingvrod with said iast mentionec means.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HIRAM C. WILLIAMS, Witnesses:

ARTHUR D. JONES, WM. D. Farms.

